Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-06-30
THE JUNIOR PARTNER.
by MANpA L. cRooKEn.

- MANIA NhOOhLhs
Abner Byrne was in one of his ways, and
another of the trying times was inevitable.
The outer door shut with bang, suggest
i've of temper; the frown on his face grew
darker and he strobe sayagcly down street
and out of sight. A woman looked after
him moment, aud then with sigh went
back to her work in the next room.
To look at her one would not imagine
that aught of happiness had ever lighted
sp the pale, drawn face, or shone from the
great sad eyes. Five years previous, how.
ever, there were smiles, and bright oness,
too, but, presto change; she was not the
wife of the passionate, unreasonable man
then, who just now had slammed the hall
door after him, aud who, invariably, tossed
aside his campany manners on entering his
own house.
Long after her husband had left the
house she sat there busy with the riddle of
her life. Each @trying timc," us she de-
nominated Abners outbursts of temper,
seemed dreary milestones measuring off
loves descent, as her regard and respect
for his wishes, bright domestic dreams,
and finally her great love for him came to the
place of the offering up. After that every
thing had gone rs it might, and she had
stepped down from the ideal heights, level
after level, until to-day she sat caring for
little else than 10 be rid of it all.
Il believe will get my zephyr and try
the new stitch, +" she said finally, coming
back from the past and trying to forget the
wretched drift of her thoughts.
The piazza was cool and inviting, and
just where the roses dropped and nodded
in the sweet weather, Eleanor Byrne
drew the fayorite sleepy-willow chair, md
began crotcheting. But the "new stitch"
was not success, judging from the pre-
picked air OF the knitter and the long
pauses between endenvors.
II must see the rules again." she
said, rising. After the rules had been
consulted, the "new stitch" threw itself into
an exquisite pattern under the practical
touch of the dcft fingers.
SLOW pretty!" she exclaimed, holding it
up to good advantage, where the afternoon
sun fickered through the lattice of vines
and danced over her sunny hair and the
work together.
I've mind to answer that ADVERTISE
ment in the Journal, and obtain work,
Lndies can made from - to S4 dollars per
day at home" quoting from memory, 'and
if l could do that shouldn't be such a
drag on Abner's hands, and hear of it
every time want o cent or an article Of
dress."
The patient mouth quivered into silence,
and two bright tears fell unheeded on the
exquisite pattern in zephyr just completed.
Poor little woman! Somehow she felt that
her habitntion of "sweet domesticiiy" had
been built upon the sand, and that these
storms of angry passion We're fast
sweeping out the foundations thereof.
Those atrying times" always frightened
her SO, and it seemed an utter impossi-
bilty to get accustomed TO them.
Ever since Abners first tantrum, when she
had fled in terror down the green lane of
her country home to the woodland be-
yond, vaguely questioning herself "was
this really Abner?" these fits of temper had
terrified her.
The question had come that day from
the depths of her alir;ghtened soul, where,
covering. shrinking down in pain from its
first terrible wound, her love was trying to
reassert itself. But these days her nffec-
ton made no fight for the supremacy, only
covered and shrank the more near the altar,
whereon the incense burnedno longer.
Wonder what's a-troublin' her!" solilo-
quized the postman, thrusting his hand
through the open window fnd dropping
the mail on the table before the pale little
wife and turning away. "Seems paler and
pnler; ! know somethin' is a-worryin' her
Well, every one of us pore mortals has tc
have somethin' to kinder hold him level,
mi keep the fact before him that this is the
ynle o tears. Theirs is death, l reckon,
he concluded, slipping letter with black
seal to the boy next door, and going on
his why.
She lookea over tho mail, singing ou,
the ono lettcr she WAS expecting. "Would
be pleased have you call, as you live SC
near; there are several kinds of work, and
perhaps you would like to choose for your
self" was what the missive said.
II will go, or my names not Eleanor
Byone."t determined look came ovel
the weary looking face, and faint blusl
s crept into her wan check, bringing out il
delicate ,intthe loveliness which had sadly
waned since the trying times began.
Il know Abner would not like to have
mo take in work, butt doesn't matter; il
j am nothing to him any moro my choice
OF employment. need not concern hin
either. liereally doesn' care for me much
] know, and I cannot love him because hs
won't let me. Oh he's killing every
emotion OF love i try TO keep alive for him
just negging it TO DEATH" Twin tears tt
the two falling on the fancy work nov
dropped without ceremony on the name Of
Nichols & Leighton on the corner of tht
enyeloped in her hand.
That afternoon Eleanor stood on the
deck of the little steamer plying betweer
her own city and the one across the bav
and felt as it the golden leaf had beer
thrown upon the dark woof of her life.
web.
Cullen Leighton, the junior partner O
the firm. was in the Office busy writ
ing when she called. aOh, yes, h,
Z said. pleasantly, II remember; please stcl
this wny.o
She followed him half way down til,
long, shadowy emporium, where he tool
down a box and spread its contents on til,
countarf for inspection.
How loyely!" she exclaimed. as she ra,
her cultivated eye over the patterns dis
played.
Yes, he replied with Sigh, "they arr
qni'e prstty."
He had been taking an unconscious in.
veniory of her dress, face, and manner
and her exclamation had brought him baci
suddenly 10 The fnnoy work.
She chose her patterns and he rolled
them up whi!e shb in turn watched him
strange that he grew SO nervous under hel